Winston Churchill (1874-1965), former British prime minister, made specific requests regarding his funeral service. He asked that it begin with the playing of "Taps," the traditional military signal played at the end of the day or the end of life. But when Churchill's funeral service was over, those in attendance were startled to hear trumpets play the familiar strains of "Reveille," the stirring call that awakens the troops at the beginning of a new day.

The end of life is in some ways like the end of a day. Life's journey is long. We get tired. We long for our labors to be finished and the suffering to be over. Ahead lies the night of death. But thank God, morning is coming! A wonderful life lies just ahead for the weary Christian traveler. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord forever (2 Cor. 5:8).

Perhaps the reason Jesus said, "I am . . . the Bright and Morning Star" (Rev. 22:16) is that He made possible the glorious dawn that awaits everyone who believes in Him.

How glad we can be that we have the assurance of eternal life with Christ! The end of life here marks the dawning of a wonderful new day in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords.  — David C. Egner